Growing Guides
A How-To & Tips Section for Garden and Fresh Market Growers
Welcome Winter Solstice!
As far back as recorded history goes, people have been planning their lives around the solar and lunar seasons. As farmers and gardeners, we depend on a ‘calendar’ based on years of experience and shared knowledge. Knowing when to till, plant, fertilize, harvest isn’t...
Grow Microgreens
Sow Often, Sow Awesome, Sooo E-A-S-Y! Are these tiny plants called microgreens the new ‘foodie’ rage for gardeners, chefs and nutritionists? It may be a new idea to some, but eating tiny greens as a flavorful garnish or crunchy topping has been around for years....
Storing Winter Squash After Harvest
Did you know some winter squash store longer than others? Some even get better with age! Here are some simple rules of thumb to following after harvesting your squash bounty. Give time to cure – Many squash taste better after they sit a bit. As water evaporates during...
Fall Planting for Additional Harvests
As the garden is winding down in late summer, there are often spots in the garden where plants have already finished producing for the season. This provides a great opportunity to plant a fall crop and extend your season. Late summer planting is often a better time to...
Plant a Living Mulch
Plant a Living Mulch and Never Weed Again (well … almost never). Many years ago, when I was first growing greens and herbs for restaurants, I was having a difficult time controlling the rabbits who lived in the state forest adjacent to my farm. They loved the tender...
Putting the Vegetable Garden to Bed
At some point during every year, we need to completely clean out our vegetable gardens. It can be done all at once or in stages, depending on if we plan to plant a new crop (garlic or winter spinach), cover crop (peas, rye or wheat) or use a mulch (I do all three!)....
Recent Growing Articles
Should I Plant a Cover Crop?
In simplest terms, a cover crop is planted to cover the soil, rather than for a harvest. Most commonly these are grains which are planted in the fall and tilled into the soil in the spring. Cover crops have many purposes but there are three main ones: 1. To increase...
The Five P’s of Successfully Planting Wildflowers
Planning, Preparation, Planting, Persistence, Patience. Whether you are planning a small corner plot, a wide ribbon swath or a full meadow, planting a wildflower area is more than just scattering seed and watching them flower. Planning: When planting wildflowers,...
Germination Guide for Starting Milkweed Seed
As with many native wildflowers, milkweeds and butterfly weeds have particular needs for germination. These seeds take cues from changing temperatures and hours of darkness to know when it’s safe to grow. Common milkweed seeds (Asclepias syriaca) must be ‘stratified’...
Coping with Drought
This past year saw many challenges for growers of vegetables, whether in the field or in a garden. Drought was a major issue for much of the northeast. What can be done now and next year if this dry trend continues? Vegetables and fruits are 80-95% water. Most...
Winter Sowing Onion Seed
Ever wonder why the onions you find at the local farmer’s markets are so large compared to those you might grow in your home garden? Onions prefer cooler temperatures but need a long growing period, often 90 days or more. This is sometimes hard to do in the northern...
Request Our Free Growers Seed Catalog
